I was just wondering when my Barred Rock and Buff Orpingtons were going to start laying....they are 22 weeks. This is new to me and hope they start laying soon
I would bet money that your barred will lay first and soon. When she is ready to lay her comb will turn bright cherry red showing she is ovulating and she will lay soon after that. In the am my chickens combs are bright and by the afternoon they are more dull after they have laid eggs. I think it is a signal to the Rooster that they are fertile. My roosters will ignore the chickens whose combs are dull and go after the ones that are brighter.
So watch the combs they will tell the tale and don't expect the first eggs to be huge. Take pictures!
Caroline
Our first egg from a July hatched chick and it was layed on 12-16-2009